KUALA LUMPUR: An estimated 200,000 undocumented workers have been vaccinated in Malaysia so far, based on the Health Ministry's records.
However, the true figures remain unknown, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin disclosed today.
"Foreigners make up 3,006,987 of the 24.7 million in Malaysia who have at least received one dose of the vaccine in Malaysia. At least 200,000 are undocumented based on our records."
"It is also difficult to say for certain that they are undocumented because these are the people we had to generate ids(for the system).
"However, many more were vaccinated using potentially expired passports and worker ID (identification papers).
"But since we generated 20,000 ID (for the system), that's the ballpark figure of undocumented workers who have been vaccinated," he said at 11th National Acute Myocardial Infarction Course by the Serdang Hospital in Bangsar today.
On their targets for vaccinating the group, Khairy said it was difficult as the denominators were also not yet established.
"As you know Statistics Department(DOSM) says that there are about 3 million foreign residents and we have vaccinated 3 million plus. That means we have vaccinated foreigners that are also not under DOSM.
"We suspect there are more foreigners than is reflected under their figure. But we have no idea of knowing what the denominator is. As far as the DOSM figure is concern we look set (to have covered the numbers)."
He, however, said the ministry would continue to encourage foreigners especially the undocumented to come forward and get their vaccinations despite the shuttering of some PPVs.
"They can still come get it through the ministry or private clinics.
"We are also encouraging employers with undocumented workers, even those whose papers have lapsed, to get them vaccinated because vaccinating workers is still an important strategy.
"Workplace clusters and infections are still a problem and vaccinating them remains an important mitigation strategy."